Elementary Library

Resource & Discussion Guide

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold (E PEN) Illustrations and simple, rhyming text introduce a school where diversity is celebrated and songs, stories, and talents are shared. Discussion Prompts: ●​ Cover: This book is called All Are Welcome. What does welcome feel like? What does welcome look like? What does welcome sound like? [Consider making a chart from student responses.] ●​ Do you see things happening in the illustrations that are not mentioned in the text? ●​ After reading: How can we make our library a more welcoming space? ●​ Have students research or share how to say “welcome” in different languages. Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn (E MCQ) Lola and her mother visit their public library to return and borrow books. Best suited for K-1st grades. Discussion Prompts: ●​ Cover: Tell children you are going to read Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn, a book about a girl who loves going to the library. As you listen to the story, pay attention to all the different things that Lola does at the library. ●​ Pause when Lola is singing: Do you have singing time when you go to the library? ●​ Pause at storytime in the library: Can you think of another place where you listen to storytime with other children? ●​ Point to the children’s faces in the illustration: Lola and the other children are good listeners, just like you. Can you show whole body listening? ●​ On the last page, point to the books that Lola’s mom is reading to her: What kinds of books does Lola’s mom read to her at bedtime? What kind of books do you like to have read to you at bedtime? ●​ After reading: What are some things that Lola does at the library? [she sings, listens to stories, looks at books, borrows books] Do you do some of the same things at your library? Lola likes a lot of things about library day. Let's make a list of what Lola likes about library day. What do you like best about going to the library? [Add additional responses to the list.] Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen (E LIO) A lion starts visiting the local library but runs into trouble as he tries to both obey the rules and help his librarian friend. A good choice for teaching library etiquette. Discussion Prompts: ●​ Who is Miss Merriweather? What is her job? What does a librarian do? ●​ Why was the lion “well suited” for the library? How did he contribute to the library community? ●​ Why do you think the lion chose to visit the library? ●​ What behaviors did the lion change to be welcome in the library? ●​ What ways can we respect our library?

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